Newcastle College Performing Arts dept. dress rehearsals 2026 Image by Paul Hood LRPS
The RPS Northern region were offered the opportunity for up to three people to attend three of the Newcastle College Performing Arts department dress rehearsals. The three dress rehearsals were for the musicals, 'Rent' and 'Everyone's talking about Jamie' and the Shakespearian tragedy 'Coriolanus'. The access to these events was arranged and facilitated by Phil Punton to whom we wish to thank for his work and guidance. We also want to thank all of the students and staff of Newcastle College involved in the performances. Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Image by Lyndsey Middleton-Kitcatt LRPS
Image by Graham Bell
Rent Friday 5th June
Rent chronicles a year in the life of a group of friends living in Alphabet City, on the Lower East Side of New York City circa 1996. On Christmas Eve, we meet Mark, a filmmaker and his roommate Roger, a former musician, living in an apartment owned by their former friend Benny.
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Now married into an uppercrust family, Benny has turned off the heat in the building in an attempt to force the tenants to either pay their past due rent or vacate. In a nearby lot, Mark’s ex-girlfriend, Maureen, has planned a protest performance with her girlfriend Joanne, to block Benny from evicting the houseless encampment there to build his “Cyberstudio.” He tells the boys if they can convince her to cancel the protests, he will erase their debts and allow them to live there for free. Another tenant in the same building is Mimi, a young dancer, who begins to flirt with Roger. He shuts her out, unable to tell her that he is a recovering drug user who is HIV positive and grieving the death of his ex-girlfriend.
Image by Matt Kerridge
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Image by Matt Kerridge
Image by Matt Kerridge
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Tom Collins, a friend of Mark and Roger, comes to visit after being expelled from M.I.T., but before he can reach the apartment, he is robbed and found by a street musician named Angel, who is HIV positive. They join the group and go to Maureen’s protest, which ends in a riot by the police. Afterwards, everyone meets at the Life Cafe to celebrate the protest. Around this time, Roger sees Mimi taking the AIDS medication (AZT) and realizes that they have this condition in common. With this knowledge, Roger and Mimi become closer and become a couple. Maureen and her
Image by Matt Kerridge
Image by Matt Kerridge
Image by Matt Kerridge Image by Matt Kerridge
Image by Matt Kerridge
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Image by Matt Kerridge
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
On New Year's Eve, the crew break into their padlocked apartment and Mark finds a voicemail from a tabloid news outlet, offering to pay him for his footage of the riot. Suddenly, Benny arrives saying that Mimi (through sexual wiles) has convinced him to erase their debts and allow them to live rent free. Mimi denies his allegations and though she and Roger make amends, she finds comfort in her old drug habits. By Valentine’s Day, the couples in the group have been living together — Roger and Mimi, Collins and Angel, and Maureen and Joanne. However, Roger’s jealousy begins to grow due to Mimi’s habits, causing them to break up. Joanne and Maureen, who are constantly bickering, also split up again. Meanwhile, Angel’s AIDS condition worsens and several months later they pass away. Shaken by the loss, Mark and Roger’s crew falls apart. Mark “sells out” and takes the tabloid job, Roger leaves town, and Joanne and Maureen attempt to rekindle their relationship.
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Image by Matt Kerridge
As time passes, each member of the group is in turmoil but tries to reconcile their differences. Roger returns to live with Mark who quits his job and finishes the film he’s been working on. Roger finally finishes the “one great song” he has been working on. Mimi has been missing; Maureen and Joanne find her unresponsive on the street from a drug overdose. Faced with the possibility of losing her forever, Roger sings a song especially for her, which miraculously revives her. Mimi says that, in her unconscious state, it was the spirit of Angel who somehow helped guide her back to life. The group then watches Mark’s film — which celebrates the last year of their life together and honors the life of Angel.
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Coriolanus Thursday 11th July In Rome, a group of mutinous citizens have become incensed over a shortage of food and are resentful of their rulers. Menenius Agrippa, a popular aristocrat, succeeds in calming them down. But then an arrogant young general called Caius Martius enters. He criticises that the tribunes (representatives), Sicinius Velutus and Junius Brutus, have been appointed to speak for the plebeians. He shows his disdain for the plebeians (common people). In the midst of this class struggle, an invading Italian army known as the Volscians threaten Rome. The Senate sends Martius along with the army to oppose the Volscian forces. Martius's sworn enemy Tullus Aufidius leads the Volscian army.
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Meanwhile, Martius's mother, Volumnia, glories in her son's valour. She discusses the importance of military prowess with his gentle wife Virgilia. Martius defeats the Volscians almost single-handedly in their city of Corioli. He earns the title 'Coriolanus'. Upon return to Rome, the aristocracy chooses to appoint Coriolanus as a Consul (another position of authority).
Image by Lyndsey Middleton-Kitcatt LRPS
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Image by Lyndsey Middleton-Kitcatt LRPS
Volumnia pressures Coriolanus to accept. According to custom at the time, potential Consuls were expected to seek the vote of the citizens in the marketplace as a mark of humility. Coriolanus, though eager to accept the position, recoils at the thought of going before the people. He is persuaded to carry out the duty. Despite their doubts, the people initially ratify the election. Shortly afterwards Sicinius and Brutus urge them to reverse the decision, and they do. Image by Steve Balback LRPS
In the ensuing public argument, Coriolanus displays his contempt for both the people and the idea of popular rule. He denies their right to corn supplies. Despite the encouragement of the senators and of his mother, Coriolanus cannot make his peace with the tribunes and the plebeians. He is expelled from Rome in rage and disgust. With nowhere else to turn, he decides to go to the Volscian city of Antium. Aufidius admires and respects his former enemy, so he welcomes Coriolanus. Together they plan to attack Rome. Image by Lyndsey Middleton-Kitcatt LRPS
Image by Steve Balback LRPS lImage by Lyndsey Middleton-Kitcatt LRPS
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Image by Lyndsey Middleton-Kitcatt LRPS
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Image by Steve Balback LRPS
Aufidius is incensed at this betrayal of trust, and with his chosen soldiers, kills Coriolanus. Once his anger is gone, Aufidius agrees to take part in the funeral of a worthy warrior.
Image by Lyndsey Middleton-Kitcatt LRPS
Everyone's talking about Jamie Thursday 18th June Miss Hedge, a careers teacher, asks her noisy year eleven class what they want to be when they get older. One student of the class, Jamie New, reveals to the audience all he wants to be is a drag queen. When prompted, Jamie tells the class he wants to be a performer, but Miss Hedge tells him to get real.
Image by Paul Hood LRPS
Image by Paul Hood LRPS
Image by Graham Bell
At Jamie's house, his mother Margaret and family friend Ray are preparing for his 16th birthday. When Jamie arrives home, Margaret gives him a card from his dad, with a picture of a race car. Margaret then gives Jamie his gift from her - a pair of red stilettos. The next day at school, Jamie shows his best friend Pritti his new heels, and then he is interrupted by Dean, the school bully. Pritti encourages Jamie to go to prom in a dress. Jamie then parades around the classroom in his heels.
Image by Paul Hood LRPS
Image by Graham Bell
Image by Paul Hood LRPS
Image by Graham Bell
At his local shop for drag queen attire, Victor's Secret, Jamie befriends the owner Hugo, and learns all about Hugo's past as a drag queen. Hugo books Jamie's first drag show at the local nightclub, and helps Jamie choose his dress. Jamie decides to be proud of himself, telling the school that he is doing a drag show at the local nightclub, Legs Eleven, that night
Image by Paul Hood LRPS
Image by Graham Bell
Outside Legs Eleven, Jamie bumps into Dean, who calls him a minger. Inside the club, Margaret and Ray have been introduced to a group of drag queens: Laika Virgin, Tray Sophisticay, and Sandra Bollock
Image by Graham Bell
Image by Paul Hood LRPS
Image by Graham Bell
Image by Graham Bell
Image by Graham Bell
Image by Graham Bell
Image by Graham Bell
Image by Phil Punton
The next day, the school is buzzing with news of Jamie's drag debut . Jamie comes into school in bright blue eyeshadow and long eyelashes. Miss Hedge once again tells Jamie to "get real", and Dean taunts Jamie, but Jamie kisses him in retaliation, leaving Dean confused. Jamie shows Margaret and Ray his new prom dress.
Image by Paul Hood LRPS
Image by Graham Bell
Miss Hedge comes out of the school and refuses Jamie's admission to the prom. All the kids stand outside and chant Jamie's name until Miss Hedge gives in and lets him in. Jamie waits until everyone's gone in, and then calls Dean out from off-stage. Jamie encourages Dean to be nice just for one night, to which Dean agrees, and they walk into prom hand-in-hand
NORTHERN REGION